The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-12-01
Soliloquy at the Grave of One Admired
by the Writer Forty Years Ago.
ICOntTibuted.l

In those bright realms beyond the skies
Where 10 dark clouds can ever rise,
Where youth and beauty ever bloom,
And diSappOlntmentS never come
Dear girl beside thy silent tomb,
| stand and mourn the fatal doom,
Which did thy early life consume.
AS womanhOod began to bloom,
Thy lifcS bright light was closed too soon
Thy sun went down before twas noon.
Thy morning dawned too clear and bright,
10 have set in such a starlesS night.
Alas an early grave was thine,
Regret and sorrow have been mine,
When L had failed thy hand to gain,
And turned away in proud disdain,
Those bitter words resentment strong!
Alas | fear they all were wrong,
For when thou didst i'll anguish lie
With the dread fever running high,
And when twas known that thou must die,
And thy dear friends had gathered nigh,
OF all who then stood weeping by,
Not one has mOurned 50 long a !.
Though tears may dim brothers eye
Yet some fair hand can wipe them dry,
And as the years unheeded fly,
A sister too fOrgetS to sigh.
The husband deep immersed in life,
May he unmindful of his wife,
The wife, if she another wed,
Will then forget the husband dead.
The tears, which piouS children shed,
Are wiped away, the funeral said;
Time may assuage fathers woe
A mOther'S tears may cease to flow,
Affection blighted ever weepS,
And conscience Slighted never sleeps.
For forty springs the grass has grown,
For forty years have seeds been strOWn,
AS many haryeStS have been moWn,
Since thy dear relics here were SoWn.
A young man then | mOurned the day
That tore thee from thy friends away,
An Old man now Of sixty years,
Here at thy grave pour fourth my tears,
| sOWed the wind i'll early morn,
And after noon | reaped the storm,
From seeds Of folly rashly StrOWn,
A dreadful harvest has been mOWn.
RemOrSe purSllcS where 'er / roam,
And when flee to my own home,
POe'S Raven sits above my door,
And casts bis shadow Der my floor.
Oh ! that | had from faults been free,
And thou hadst deigned to hear my plea,
In youth and love cntreating thee,
10 trust thy happiness to me
If thou iadSt wished for wealth and ease,
l would have compassed lands and seas,
Or hadst thou sighed or fame'S renoWn,
I'd put the opposition down.
Or hadst thou spurncd both wealth ana
fame,
Content to bear reproach and shame
For Christ the Sdvlour'S holy name,
Ills grace and mercy to obtain
| too had ch0s'n this better part,
And sought Ills grace with all my heart
And we had made, by worship true,
Our '.calling and election sure"
My life is in scar and yellow leaf,
And unavaiiing all my grief,
Though | should pray and often fast,
Yet naught aV"ils to change the past,
Though cares and years have bleaclled my
hair,
Nor years nor cares have reached despair
'TiS hope affords me this relief,
think it still a firm belief,
That there is a better time to come,
When earthly scenes have all been done,
| The grave shall not its victim keep,
| For death is 10 eternal sleep.
| Salna self shall rise amain,
| TO bloom through loves amending reign;
[ hope to meet her yet again,
| Iii realm that's free from death and pain
| | trust her life was not in vain,
| And that my loss is her great gain.
| long to see her rObed in white
And housed in home THAT knows no blight
| Her beaming eyes undimmed by tears,
| TO sparkle through unfailing years,
| The beauty of her youthful face,
| TO glow with Heavens adOrnin9 grace.
| 0, charming girl, for ever dear,
| Whose voice was music to my ear.
| That voice attuned by lOYe divine,
Shall join in concord yet with mine,
And we'll sing on and on wei sing,
! And not panJ of SORROW wiring
| Our hearts united then in love,
| In those blessed mansions far above.
| These earthly scenes of grief and woe,
| Which I've encountered here below,
Which thou, dear one, didst only Shun
By life's brief journey early run.
| Yes, thou art gone to live Oh high,
| To weep no more, no more to die.
| Yet some times when I'm all alone,
| | mind thy voice in the same tone,
| once so loved and longed to hear,
And, then, fancy, thou art near.
| And though thyself | cannot see,
| My guardian angel thou may'st be.
| " hat Joy would fill my inmost soul,
| Could | but feel thy sweet control,
| And be assured midst life's alarms,
That we defend thy own dear arms.
| But now. farewell we'll meet above,
Where all is peace and joy and love.
! I've wiped my eyes aud sung my song,
My stay on earth cannot be long;
| My Sapn Of life is nearly run,
! My work below is we'll nigh done.
My last sad song has now been sung,
| And leave off as was begun.
| The pledge of love, thou couldSt not give,
! ButO, Salina, ever live
! Henderson, \. &. ANONYMOUS.
!